Inverter and Battery Question

Deadmanza said:
So would that be 2 cables to the inverter that then splits to the batteries?
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that is correct, 2 cables of whatever length (keep it short to minimise on voltage drop) to a bolt and nut is what i used, then from there you split your wires of EXACTLY the same length and width to each of your positive terminals on the batteries

Then do the same for the negatives.

When i now read voltage on each battery with my voltmeter they are all exactly the same volts at any given time.

I have been running this configuration now for 2 years in my caravan and a year before that in my camping trailer
 
RedViking said:
Please just check with the experts @Sinbad @Geoff.D @Dairyfarmer that you connect them the correct way. If you have a 12V system anyone of those methods should work.
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Unfortunately method 1 is crap for 10 batteries, i found the batteries in the middle had lower volts than the ones nearer the one end. It frustrated me to no end for over a year.
 
RedViking said:
Have you tried a battery balancer?
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no
these are 10 brand new batteries at the time and using the simple Method 1 had me frustrated, after a week i would disconnect everything and charge each battery manually until fully charged.
Then wire all up together again
a week later same problem.

then when i figured out method 3 i have had zero issues and i my batteries finally get fully charged now daily on my solar setup. Previously the batteries would only reach 12.8volts without going higher, no matter how many solar panels i threw at it.

I was pulling my hair out :laugh: In my opinion for what i am using method 3 is perfect for 10 batteries
 
Chuckmyster said:
no
these are 10 brand new batteries at the time and using the simple Method 1 had me frustrated, after a week i would disconnect everything and charge each battery manually until fully charged.
Then wire all up together again
a week later same problem.

then when i figured out method 3 i have had zero issues and i my batteries finally get fully charged now daily on my solar setup. Previously the batteries would only reach 12.8volts without going higher, no matter how many solar panels i threw at it.

I was pulling my hair out :laugh: In my opinion for what i am using method 3 is perfect for 10 batteries
Click to expand...
I need two batteries. When can I come pick them up?
 
HunterNW said:
Is that a pure sinewave inverter ? Can't see ..... And only one battery - I can't see that it would power everything for very long ?
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The pic shows is a pure sinwave inverter so il assume it is and yea 1 battery and 1 panel but I plan to add a second battery and panel to this setup when I buy and get it installed. And then il add more as we go along.
 
Terence1983 said:
How would this little setup work for a small back up system incase the poop hits the fan with Eskom and we without power for a while to run for eg. 1 small bar Fridge, 1 32 inch flat screen tv, fibre router ,maybe a laptop. 2 or 3 LED lights? Obviously it wont be able to run all that 24/7 but the plan is to add additional solar panels and batteries as funds allow. Il get a gas cooker for cooking, boiling water.

Oh and its just the wife and myself in a small 2 bed place and our monthly electricity usage averages around 300kw per month so far for 2019 and that's with 2 fridges, a deep freeze, wifi, home alarm system, elec gate on permanently, we only switch the geyser on when needed.

http://www.rsasolarandelec.co.za/product/1-6kva-solar-kit-good-for-homes-offices/
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That's a nice piece of kit, but in addition to that, I'd replace my geyser with a solar one if I were you. I strongly doubt your geyser uses less than 1kw
 
Deadmanza said:
You are right...
Does that change anything with regards to adding a 3rd battery?
Another dumb question, if I buy the bigger inverter 2400va will it have any impact on run time?
I am guessing not, though.

So confused, does that mean a bigger inverter does mean longer run times.
Click to expand...

If you buy a inverter with more output power it won't last longer, it all comes down to the batteries, you can have a 1000VA inverter with 20 car batteries on it and it will last about a week powering routers and such.

But if you have a 2400VA inverter with 1 dinky battery on it, it won't last long even with the same load as the 1000VA

TL:DR the more power you require the bigger inverter you need and more batteries you require.

Remember just like with a PC PSU, you can stick a 1200W PSU in a Pentium 4 PC but its only going to draw 75W. It doesn't mean the PC will draw 1200W, see how much power your devices draw in watts by using Amps x Volts then choose an inverter in that range then fill it with batteries.
 
Honey Badger said:
That's a nice piece of kit, but in addition to that, I'd replace my geyser with a solar one if I were you. I strongly doubt your geyser uses less than 1kw
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The geyser wont run off this at all but yea we do plan on going solar with the geyser also some time down the line.

The setup is just for basic day to day needs when the need arises and we will add on as we go along and eventually go fully off grid.
 
Rickster said:
you can have a 1000VA inverter .... But if you have a 2400VA
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Please don't confuse VA with KW.

For a quick calculation KW is the VA x PF (Power Factor). Modified sine wave inverters have a low PF (75% to 85%). That is why you see those 1000VA/750W cheapies. Pure sine wave generally have a PF or 85%-95%. I've also seen modified sine wave inverters with a 60% PF.
 
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